How to Make Easy Hills & Mountains for Model Train Layouts and Dioramas

Simple and easy technique for making hills, mountains and land forms for model railroad layouts and dioramas. The paint used in this video is Cliff Rock by Behr.

[robertschworm]

Kevin,
Came back to report on poly fiber batting after many months of construction a museum grade N scale layout, depicting the Cuyahoga Valley and the Scenic Railway that runs for 26 miles thru it. I saw your video on poly fiber and decided to implement it in this project. It turned out amazing and nothing but compliments.

We began with terra forming with foam off cuts and slabs to depict the terrain and hills of this Nation Park that dates back to 1870 when the rails came in. We held to exacting standards with historic buildings scratch built and a actual Cuyahoga Alco Pa1 that pulls a California Zephyr consist. The terrain is so life like that I had to just stand there and take it all in. 3D mountains and hillsides are blenedd and painted into the backdrop and disappear into the scene and horizon with forced perspective. The depth of illusion is tremendous.

It will be automated to a push button pressed by visiting children to the museum. Seasoned modelers can not believe we did all this with poly foam low loft batting, a technique no one had ever heard of or used before.

Thanks for the great idea. I just had to come back and look you up to give you this report.

Bob Schworm- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad volunteer - N scale Museum Project

[HellfrozeoverDitto-ljrm]

Thank you so much for sharing this neat video. I’m a beginner and I have been over thinking on a tight budget. I don’t have anybody that’s in this hobby so I’m flying sole on this adventure. I’m more into the landscaping but in all fairness my little people will need town to to live in.

[kristaharmon]

Thanks for helping a mom who is NOT a craft person. :)

[erroldawdy]

Hi, thanks so much for putting me on to this really neat technique. I’ve reserected my old train set from 40 years ago and for sure I’m going to try it.

[tommythomason]

The fine painting you did with it really made it happen. I used to model Texas, back when I had an N-scale layout, for the specific reason of avoiding mountain building, lol. I had no faith in my ability to construct hills and mountain scenery.

[davidamoody]

I've never seen a better idea than this, it's totally brilliant!

[jazzman]

Wow, the texture of the batting as soon as it’s painted, is excellent. Much more realistic than plaster.

[amandam]

This was awesome. My three year old is train crazy, and the idea of trying to make something like this for him was so overwhelming- but this looks much easier than I expected! Thank you kindly for sharing your tips!!!

[erroldawdy]

Hey, I was a bit skeptical, wondering what kind of texture it would lay down, but I love it. What a perfect base to add to. Thanks again.

[Starfish]

That looks incredible. Such a simple idea, but with amazing results.

[gauge]

Very realistic looking terrain, I like it, I'll have to try it when I start up another layout.

[playerpianogal]

Thank you for sharing this!! I used the "snow mats" available around Christmas and glued them over my foam boards, but never thought of quilt batting as I DO have a lot of that!! Thank you SO much for sharing!!!

[cjambrosi]

Just wanted to say thanks very much... I have tried this method and love it... Also wanted to share an idea I just combined with your batting technique that worked really good. on a Coal Mine module I am building this weekend, I decided to support the mountain with 1/4 inch metal screen, then sprayed the expanding foam on top of the screen and laid the Low Loft batting right into the wet expanding foam... Its really cool, because the foam doesn't come through the batting, but it definitely bonded to the screen wire and the low loft batting and was really easy to shape while it was expanding.... In less than 4 hours, it was ready for painting, grasses, earth, clump foliage etc.

[johnnyrailer]

holy crap Kevin! I did this for my Christmas layouts but used some foam and screen and put the batting down for snow. never thought it would come out looking that good. great work!

[daveroberts]

Kevin, update on quilted batting -

I wote before and the project turned out excellent., just a note - -
I determined the area or setion to have the batting.

I laid out the batting and pinned it down, and with a sharpie, connected the bots around the cirucmverence.
Removed the batting and cut it out.
Pinned the batting down on the FAR side to hold it into positin and so it would not move around.

Working forward slowly, painted the glue on the land forms and slowl brought the battin forward and shaped
into tall the nooks and valleys. At the leading edge, pinned that down too.

checked the entire perimiter was in place

pained it all with brown latex foam which soaked into the batting and mixed with the pva and boned it all down

While wet - sprinkled on the first layer of brown ground foam as a base

Next day installed the secnery, working with the element shortest in height and then the rest going up in height along the way. Absolutely excellent with many comments by seansoned modelers who had never done this.

Shahved hundreds of pounds off the layout and cheap as chips too.

Bob S - cleveland

[johnmarking]

I watched this video about a year ago. And I have found that this is the best way to do terrain. Thanks you help me make a master piece.

[TheEarthling]

I have not yet started my miniature train set, but i've been watching a lot of videos in the past month and i think, so far, you have the best way to do the terrain. The quilt material really does an amazing job to look like dirt once painted, it could almost be left naked and still look good.

I'm taking notes of this for when i start my own.

[zamfirtoth]

I tried this...it worked incredibly, so easy and so little mess compared to traditional methods

[davidrobinson]

Neat, I like it. I'm near to building a tunnel section and wasn't really looking forward to using plaster. I'll certainly give it a try. As a side issue have a look at Bolder Creek Railroad, the stuff that this guy puts out is unbelievable and he makes it look so simple, rest assured, it ain't I've tried.

[trainjam]

You have a gift and you helped me understand. I think I can get it right the first time. Thank you so much. I hope my grand daughter will be excited when see comes over and sees what grand pops train garden looks like this Christmas. Thanks again. Waiting for the batman train set to be delivered, should be a show stopper. Thanks again.